Ten-day Photographers’ Yunnan-Guizhou Tour

    You will be picked up by your guide and driver at the airport or the railway stations in Guiyang, and be escorted to your hotel in downtown Guiyang.

    Guiyang is the capital city of Guizhou Province. It is the most easily accessible city in Guizhou. Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport is located about 30 kilometers(19 miles) to the southeast of downtown Guiyang. Travelers can fly to Guiyang from many of the major cities within Mainland China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an and Kunming. The aviation network of Guiyang also covers Europe, Southeastern Asia, and Oceania with linked destinations in the regions, such as Paris, Milan, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne. People can also travel to Guiyang by bullet train from Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Kunming.

    After breakfast, you will ride your car or coach to Huangguoshu Waterfall. The waterfall is located around 150 kilometers(93 miles) to the southwest of Guiyang. The journey to the waterfall takes about two and a half hours. In the late afternoon, you will check in at your hotel in Anshun.

    Huangguoshu Waterfall was designated as a national park in 1982. It is the largest waterfall in China. The main waterfall cascades down with a drop of 67 meters(220 feet) and a width of 83.3 meters(273 feet). The name Huangguoshu also refers to a group of waterfalls at the centerpiece of the park, which is a 78-meter(256-foot) drop and a 101-meter(331-foot) span. The widest waterfall of the cluster is called Doupotang. It is a 21-meter(69-foot) drop, is 105 meters(344-foot) in width. Tianxing-Bridge is one of the wonders in the park, is known as a beautiful natural bonsai. It lies some 6 kilometers(3.7 miles) downstream from the main waterfall and features the divers landscapes, such as stone forest, Karst caves and lakes.

    You will set off for Xingyi County in the morning. The distance between Anshun and Xingyi is about 230 kilometers(143 miles). It takes about four and a half hours to drive from Anshun to Xingyi. On the way to Xingyi, you will pass through Beipanjiang Grand Bridge and pay a visit to Huajiang Gorge and Malinghe Gorge. A hotel in Xingyi county will be booked for you for two nights.

    Beipanjiang Grand Bridge straddles the Beipan River. There is a sheer drop of 565 meters(1,854 feet) to the water below. It is the highest bridge in the world. The bridge has a span of 1,341 meters(4,400 feet).

    Huajiang Gorge lies in the south west of Anshun Prefecture, about 115 kilometers(71 miles) from downtown Anshun. The gorge is 80 kilometers(50 miles) in length, 3,000 meters(9,843 feet) in width and over 1,000 meters(3,281 feet) at its deepest point. The Huajiang River flows through the gorge, looking like a ribbon. Its view is stunning.

    Malinghe Gorge is located about 10 kilometers(6 miles) to the county seat of Xingyi. It features the Karst landscape. The gorge is 74.8 kilometers(46 miles) in length and 500 meters(1,640 feet) at its deepest point. The width of the gorge ranges from 50 meters(164 feet) to 400 meters(1,312 feet). The Qingshui River runs into the gorge. The cliffs on both sides of the river are covered by dense forest. Waterfalls cascade down to the bottom of the gorge. Malinghe Gorge is one of the must-see natural wonders in Southwestern Guizhou.

You will go to visit Wanfeng Lake in the morning, and be taken to Wanfeng Stone Forest in the afternoon. Wanfeng means ten-thousand peaks in English. Both the lake and the stone forest are components of Xingyi National Geo-park.

Wanfeng Lake is a four-star scenic area. It lies about 34 kilometers(21 miles) to the southeast of the county seat. The lake is surrounded by mountains and measures 50 square kilometers(19 sq.mi). It is known as the most gorgeous lake in Guizhou Province. As one of the top three South China Karst wonders, Wanfeng Stone Forest features the pinnacle Karst landscape. It is located about 12 kilometers(7.5 miles) to the south of the county seat. There are some picturesque villages in the park. One of them is called Nahui Village. It is inhabited by the Buyi people.

    After breakfast, you will leave your hotel for Luoping County, Yunnan Province. The county is located some 210 kilometers(130 miles) to the east of Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan. The distance between Xingyi and Luoping is around 87 kilometers(54 miles). The journey to Luoping takes about two hours. On the way to Luoping, you will pay a visit to the Nine-Dragon Waterfall, Niujie Oilseed Rape Field and the Golden-Rooster Hill. You will not miss the photographic golden hour before sunset at the Golden Rooster Hill. You will spend the night in your hotel in Luoping County.

    There is a cluster of waterfalls in the northeast of Luoping County. The main waterfall is called the Nine-Dragon Waterfall or Jiulong Waterfall. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Mainland China. The waterfall is a 56-meter(184 foot) drop and measures 112 meters(367 foot) in width. The distance between the waterfall and the county seat of Luoping is approximately 24 kilometers(15 miles).

    Niujie Terraced Field lies around 13 kilometers(8 miles) to the north of Luoping Town. The terraces and the divisions are spiral in form, looking like a snail’s shell. There is a viewing platform on the top of terraced field. It gives a stunning view of the terraces.

    The Golden-Rooster Hill is situated about 13 kilometers(8 miles) to the northeast of Luoping Town. A huge number of conical natural grassy mounds stand in clusters on a vast oilseed rape field. It is a typical example of South China Karst Landscape. The rapeseed field covers an area of nearly 100 square kilometers(39 sq.mi).

    If the weather is good, you may go to the Golden-Rooster Hill for a spectacular sunrise. After breakfast, you will ride your car or coach to Yuanyang Terraces Scenic Area. The distance between Luoping and the terraces in Yuanyang is around 400 kilometers(249 miles). The ride to Yuanyang Terraces takes about six hours. On the way to Yuanyang, you will pay a visit to the Colorful Sandstone Forest. We will book the best inn near the terraces for you for two nights, so that you can go taking photographs at both sunrise and sunset.

    The Colourful Sandstone Forest is a natural wonder of Yunnan Province. It covers an area of 6 square kilometers(2.3 sq.mi). Its landscape is different from both Chinese Danxia Landform and South China Karst Landform, is absolutely unique in the world. The formation of the sandstone forest is influenced by crustal movements, earthquakes, weathering and erosion.

    Yuanyang Rice Terraces Scenic Area lies in the south of Yunnan Province, about 330 kilometers(205 miles) from Kunming. It covers an area of 2,450 hectares(6,054 acres). The scenic area is divided into three parts, namely the Tiger-Mouth Terraces, Duoyishu Terraces and Bada Terraces. Some villages are surrounded by the terraces. The Hani people reside and lead a tranquil life in the villages. The Hani is an ethnic minority in Yunnan Province. They maintain a strong cultural tradition. Yuanyang Rice Terraces Scenic Area was added to the list of world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2013. It attracts photographers with its breathtaking scenery.

    You will spend the day taking photographs of the rice terraces. Please do not miss the spectacular sunrise and sunset, if the weather is good. There is a viewing platform at the Tiger-Mouth Terraces. It is the most ideal place to get a panoramic view of the terraces. You will also go for a stroll in Jingkou Village. It is the most typical Hani’s village.

    In the morning, you will set off for Jianshui County. It is located approximately 120 kilometers(75 miles) to the north of Yuanyang Rice Terraces. On the way to Jianshui, you will pay a visit to the Swallow Cave. The route is totally 162 kilometers(101 miles) in length. The journey to Jianshui takes about four hours. After you arrive at Jianshui, you will be guided to visit some sightseeing spots of Jianshui Ancient Town, such as Shuanglong Bridge and Jianshui Confucius Temple. You will stay overnight in a hotel in Jianshui.

    The Swallow Cave is called Yanzi Cave by the locals. It is one of the biggest Karst caves in Asia, is the summer home to over a hundred-thousand swifts which migrate from Indonesia in the spring. The cave is 4,000 meters(13,123 feet) in depth and 30 meters(98 feet) in width. Its roof is 50 meters(164 feet) in height. The Swallow Cave Scenic Area lies about 26 kilometers(16 miles) to the east of Jianshui Town.

    Jianshui Ancient Town boasts a long history. It was founded in the early ninth century. Nowadays, there are still over 50 old buildings in the ancient town. Chaoyang Watchtower used to be the east gate of the town. It was constructed in the year of 1389. The must-see attractions of the old town include Chaoyang Watch Tower, Shuanglong Bridge, Jianshui Confucius Temple and the Residence of Zhu’s Family.

    Shuanglong Bridge was built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong(1736-1796), the Qing Dynasty(1644-1912). It is one of the most famous old bridges in China. The name Shuanglong means two dragons in English. It refers the two rivers which the bridge straddles. The bridge has 17 arches and crosses the confluence of the Lu River and the Tashui River. It is 148 meters(486 feet) in length and 3 meters in width.

    Jianshui Confucius Temple was originally built in the year of 1285. It covers an area of 7.6 hectares(19 acres). The present buildings in the compound can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the oldest and largest Confucius Temples in China.

    The Residence of Zhu’s Family has a history of over 100 years. It was designated as a national cultural relic site under protection in 2013. The house shows the traditional Chinese folk architecture.

    After breakfast, you will be taken to visit the Residence of Zhu’s Family in Jianshui Ancient Town. Then, you will travel to Kunming and visit the Emerald Lake. An optional activity recommended to you is to watch a wonderful dance show after dinner which is called the Impression of Yunnan. You will spend the night in downtown Kunming.

    The Emerald Lake lies at the foot of Wuhua mountain, 500 meters(1,640 feet) from Yuantong Monastery. It is the most beautiful park in downtown Kunming. The lake measures 15 hectares(37 acres) and is surrounded by willows. It is the winter home of migratory birds.

    You will be transferred to Kunming Changshui International Airport according to your flight timings. The airport is located 37 kilometers(23 miles) to the north of downtown Kunming. It operates flights to 47 overseas metropolises and 122 cities within Mainland China. The overseas terminals include Paris, Moscow, Vancouver, San Francisco, Sydney, Dubai, Seoul, Osaka, Kuala Lumper, Singapore, Bangkok, etc.